IndiGo's child-free zone divides opinion on Twitter

Is it insensitive or discriminatory to have a kids-free zone in an airplane? After all, there are many travellers who board flights with their children and, well, some kids just cry.

The constant wailing of children, however, disturbs and angers travellers who just want to use the precious free time for a quick nap or reading a book. This is the kind of issue that resonates globally.

So, it is no surprise that many international media outlets including UK's The Independent, USA's New York Daily News and Australia's ABC News have reported India's low-cost carrier Indigo's plan for a 'Quiet Zones' in the planes with no children under the age of 12.

Kids are also banned from seats with extra leg room and those next to emergency exits.

While the airline's heart may have been at the right place, the policy has led to a divided opinion.

In fact, according to a  report on The Times of India on 24 September a senior Directorate General of Civil Aviation official had promised to "examine" the policy.

The report had also cited travellers who were angered with the policy and expressed their disappointment over the discriminatory policy.

And similar tweets ensued.

#childfreeflights what next human free flights? Grow up people stop blaming kids for your own short tempers

- G3 (@G3M01) October 6, 2016

 

But, meanwhile, there were many who actually welcomed the move, and they were not just people from India.

Some said they would pay a few bucks extra for these child-free zones:

Totally agree with #childfreeflights I would gladly pay extra for a seperate section on the plane.

- Alaisdair (@alaisdair) October 4, 2016

 

 

 

Others felt it wasn't a matter of discrimination.

#childfreeflights hooray !!!! It's not discrimination it's sense !!! Hope it becomes the norm ???? well done @IndiGo6E

- shelly richardson (@mishelly2810) October 6, 2016

 

 

 

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Finally, one individual gets blunt over the idea,

Read some rows on flights to be child free in India. Until some parents stop kids kicking seat & screaming, gets my vote. #ChildFreeFlights

- smillieg (@smillieg) October 8, 2016

Indigo, meanwhile, seems to have tried not to let the controversy draw negative publicity. In fact, it seems to have taken down a post on Twitter about its new Quiet Zone regulation from 5 October.

Earlier the airline had told Traveller.com:  "Keeping in mind the comfort and convenience of all passengers, row numbers 1 to 4 and 11 to 14 are generally kept as a Quiet Zone on IndiGo flights."